Growth rate and quality of the seedlings of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) in organic horticulture

G. Magnani, L. Botrini and A. Graifenberg

Abstract
The growth rate and qualitative characteristics of 3 vegetable (lettuce, cabbage and cauliflower) seedlings, grown with an organic method, were evaluated. The organic method consisted of using cocopeat as the growth medium and organic fertilizer for fertigation. This method was compared with a traditional one based on a peat growth medium and synthetic fertilizers for fertigation.

The results showed different responses among the vegetables, regarding growth rate and quality. Lettuce grown with organic method presented an increase of growth rate, fresh weight, leaf number and area, height, root/shoot ratio and nutrient content compared to the traditional method. On the contrary, cabbage and cauliflower, grown with organic method, showed a reduction of growth rate, dry weight, leaf number and area, chlorophyll content, height and nutrient content.

The different responses among these species could be related to the length of the nursery cycle, which is longer for cabbage (higher production of dry matter) and shorter for lettuce. Moreover, the leaf uptake of nutrients in lettuce was easier than cabbage because of different characteristics of leaves.


Source
Italus Hortus (2003) 10: 80-87


Author Locations and Affiliations
Dipartimento di Biologia delle Piante Agrarie, Sezione di Orticoltura e Floricoltura, Universita di Pisa, Pisa, Italy.


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Posted February 2007